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TIPS FOR LIVING WITH WILDLIFE
Wild animal sightings in urban areas and suburban neighborhoods are not uncommon and are generally not a reason to be alarmed. While abundant food and water sources in these areas attract the animals, they have a natural fear of humans and will usually avoid encounters. However, there are some steps you can take to deter wildlife visitors:
- Do not approach or feed wildlife
- Never leave pet food outside
- Restrict use of birdseed. Wildlife are attracted to the birds and rodents that eat from the bird feeder
- If possible, eliminate outdoor sources of water
- Keep yards tidy by cleaning up fallen fruit from trees, removing brush piles, and trimming low shrubbery to eliminate hiding places
- Repair dilapidated fencing
- Only put trash out on the morning of trash collection
- Keep cats and small dogs indoors, allowing them outside under supervision and on a leash. Cats should not be left outdoors to roam freely
- While wild animals are generally motivated to keep their distance from humans, residents can also yell, wave arms, and make other loud noises to scare and further deter the animals
TRAPPING
**Seasonal reminder: Please be aware of the rapidly changing Texas weather. Trapping is not permitted during ANY TYPE of inclement weather event. This includes rain (even small amounts), tornado warnings, lightning and extreme hot or cold temperatures. Please contact Animal Services with questions.
Coppell Animal Services recommends using the above deterrents before resorting to humane trapping of wild animals. If no other humane eviction solution is available, Animal Services offers traps for loan to our residents. These traps are available on loan for 10 days and require the resident to provide a valid Drivers License and sign a trap agreement.
If a resident wishes to use their own personal humane trap, they must comply with the same requirements as residents with loaner traps and must sign a personally owned trap agreement BEFORE the City services their trap. Here is a summary of trapping requirements:
- Traps can only be set Sunday evening through Thursday evening for pick up Monday morning through Friday morning excluding holidays
- Contact Animal Services BEFORE 10 am for pick up of a trapped animal
- The resident responsible for the humane trap is responsible for the safety and well-being of the trapped animal and must adhere to Section 9-1-23 of the City of Coppell Ordinance, meaning that the trapped animal should have access to food, water and some type of shelter while in the trap
- The trap may NOT be set during inclement weather conditions or when these conditions are expected. Trapping is not allowed at all when temperatures are below 40 degrees Fahrenheit or expected to be 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above or when any severe weather warning is issued
- Any trap that is to be serviced by Animal Services personnel should be placed OUTSIDE of a fenced or enclosed area and should be easily removable by the Animal Services Officer. Traps should not be placed in areas with excessive soil, mud, mulch or in an area with a sprinkler system that will be operating while the animal is in the trap
**FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THESE PRACTICES COULD RESULT IN CITATIONS.**
Helpful Links
- DFW Wildlife Coalition
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Humane Society of the United States- Wild Neighbors